By Tai Wei Lim

US Embassy’s Relocation to Jerusalem: Beijing’s View

What
is China’s stance on the US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital city of
Israel? China’s official stance is for the Palestinians to have their own
sovereign state established according to the 1967 boundaries indicating East
Jerusalem as its capital city. This is popularly known as the “two state
solution.”

The
majority of Chinese state media appears to consider the current US decision to
move its embassy to Jerusalem as unfortunate and untimely. The stronger op-eds
in the Chinese state media conceptualize the decision as an avenue that may
incur retaliation against the US. Beijing is navigating delicately between its
partnerships and friendships with both Arab countries and the Israelis, while
keeping in mind the recent upturn in US-China relations, especially after
President Donald J Trump’s visit to Beijing.

To present
the Arab side of the story, the state-owned media broadcast Palestinian
opposition to the decision, alongside European concerns. Leading European
leaders like French President Macron have expressed their views on the subject.
The usual right-leaning patriotic conservative press like The Global Times were more critical of the US decision. The
mainstream press however was more pacifist in attitude and called for peace in
the region, a position which is not that different from Chinese attitudes
towards North Korea — another troubled area in the world where the US and its
allies are currently engaged in a stand-off with the
internationally-marginalized Pyongyang.

Interestingly,
some state media platforms in China worry about the unilateral instincts of the
Trump administration and wonder if such instincts will be applied to North
Korea at the doorstep of China. This worries Beijing which is trying to
advocate for a peaceful solution to the stand-off between the US and Pyongyang.
Beijing has in the past been in favor of returning to the Six Party talks and is
now trying to persuade both Pyongyang and Washington to talk to each other,
something that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is in favor of.

Similarly,
on the Palestinian issue, some stakeholders in the Middle East peace process
are mobilizing major powers like China, Russia, EU and others to assist with
cooling down temperatures and returning to the negotiating table. Jordan, the
UN, and the Pope are persuading the parties involved to continue with peace
negotiations and/or dialogue.

The
imageries conjured up by the Chinese state-owned press appear to range from
amazement at the unexpected strength of the Trump administration’s decision, to
fear and trepidation of the impact of his perceived unilateralism. Following
such views, the apt analogy may be that of a shock treatment offered by the
Trump administration to get Palestinians to talk with the Israelis.
Interestingly, the Trump administration’s approaches to both the Middle East
and North Korea issues have been examined together on some Chinese media
platforms, bringing the Jerusalem decision a lot closer to home for Chinese
readers and viewers.

The
current situation is likely to offer some fodder for Chinese state-owned media,
patriotic right-leaning conservative commentators, sympathetic pro-Trump
Chinese social media voices, and even state propaganda units to wage their
respective narrative battles against each other. It may have some limited
impact on Chinese public opinions about the US, Sino-US relations, and the
Trump administration.

In the Jerusalem recognition issue, Beijing
is careful not to scuttle the peace process. It wants the parties and
stakeholders concerned to continue to observe and implement the UN resolutions
and to stick to the peace process.

Overall,
following the announcement of the move of the US embassy, Beijing is worried
about political stability in the Middle East, its impact on strengthening
extremism and radicalism in the already volatile region, and the security
situation. Beijing and most of the world understand that US-Arab cooperation is
the only way to bring lasting peace to the Middle East. Some Palestinians have
expressed their anger and declared they no longer consider the US to be a
neutral party and that the peace process is effectively dead. It may be a
little too premature to conclude this.

Some
media commentators in China are also worried about the future of the Saudi-Israeli
relationship. Arab anger may turn out against both the US and Israel. Radicals
and extremists in the Middle East may then find common ground with Arab
nationalists. Arab nationalism was a powerful force in the post-war era of
decolonization when secular Arab forces including military groups and the Young
Turks declared independence from European colonialism.

Some
Chinese in the social media channels have expressed their agreement with
Trump’s decision. Trump has been a popular personality in China. Beijing
offered regal treatment for President Trump when he visited President Xi
Jinping. Despite his tough words on China during the US Presidential election
period, President Trump has not carried out any of his threats and sanctions on
China at this point of this writing. Trump’s frank views, appreciation of
Chinese culture — expressed through his children like Ivanka (whose daughter
sang Chinese-language songs during the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations to
Chinese embassy officials) — mark a turnabout from perceptions of the Obama
administration’s tough attitudes towards China. All these have endeared Trump
to a section of the Chinese population. Therefore, it is not a good time to
disturb the Sino-US equilibrium in relations.

China’s
caution on the issue of Jerusalem is completely consistent with its
international diplomacy which selectively focuses on issues in line with
national interests and which does not overstretch China’s resources as an
economic superpower. In the past, this was tied to the doctrine of “lying low
and biding time” theorized by Chinese paramount leader Deng Xiaoping. But with
President Xi’s administration, Beijing has had a higher profile in global
affairs. Just recently, the Chinese used their permanent status on the UN
Security Council to block an attempt by the UN Security Council to debate and
do something about the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.

Despite
its higher profile, Beijing is carefully picking its targets for peace
overtures as well as exhibiting assertiveness carefully and selectively. In the
Jerusalem recognition issue, Beijing is careful not to scuttle the peace
process. It wants the parties and stakeholders concerned to continue to observe
and implement the UN resolutions and to stick to the peace process.

The
state media also reported on other world leaders’ reactions towards the Trump
administration’s decision. For example, the Chinese state media reported Turkish
President Recep Erdogan dispensing warnings to President Trump over his
decision. Jordan has also been outspoken about the US decision, and has initiated
an extraordinary session at the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic
Conference to highlight their concerns about the US decision. The Chinese state-owned
media also reported Qatar disagreeing with Washington.

For
any lasting solutions to the tensions, the legitimate concerns and national
security of Israel must also be recognized, as its southern regions have
suffered rocket attacks and loss of lives from radicals and extremists. It may
be time for all to cool down and start dialoguing again with fair and objective
treatment of both Israeli and Arab concerns as well as the interests of the
external powers.